Replaceable end links for expansion watch bands



Aug. 16, 1960 LA VERNE E. BRUHN ETAL 2,948,941

REPLACEABLE END LINKS FOR EXPANSION WATCH BANDS Filed April 10. 1958 '1" ill I A AA AA lkvezzio'izi 6 MW jf 'nited States Patent REPLACEABLE END LINKS FOR EXPANSION WATCH BANDS La Verne E. Bruhn, Elgin, Ill., and Vincent H. McLaren, Jr., Providence, R.I., assignors to Elgin National Watch Company, Elgin, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 727,735 6 Claims. Cl. 24 -265 This invention relates to watch bands of the expansible type and more particularly to the connections of the ends of the bands with watches of the type having spaced lugs to receive the spring-pressed pins projecting from the ends of the tubular connector commonly called a pin-bar. Inasmuch as the ends of a band should conform to the shape of the watch case to which it is attached, it has been' customary to carry two lines of bands for watches of different kinds, one for watches having rectangular cases Moreand the other for watches having curved cases. over the spacing of the watch lugs is different in ditferent makes and styles of watches, thereby necessitating termif nal members of different lengths to receive the pin-bars.

If the terminal of the watch band has a length less than I the space between the watch lugs the terminal member' can slide back and forth on the pin-bar, and if the length of the terminal is greater than the lug spacing the terminal cannot be inserted between the lugs without filing off the.

ends of the terminal.

Objects of the present invention are to provide end con nections for watch bands which are readily adaptable to watches of different shapes and sizes, which fit snugly so as to prevent lost-motion between the watch and band both crosswise and lengthwise of the band, which are simple and economical in construction and which are durable and reliable in use.

In one aspect the present invention comprises a cover member to cover the tube of the pin-bar, the cover member being tubular and having a slot on the bracelet side, the length of the cover member approximating the distance between the watch lugs and the width of the slot being less than the diameter of the hollow terminal so that the slot must be sprung open to snap the cover member over the terminal. Preferably the length of theterminal is less than the space between the watch lugs to provide a gap between each end of the terminal and the adjacent lug and the cover member is provided with cars at the gaps to overlap the peripheries of the ends of the pin-bar tubes. In the preferred embodiment the cover member has a pair of ears on opposite sides of the tube at each of the gaps, one ear of each pair being turned inwardly and the other car of each pair being turned outwardly.

'In another aspect the inventioninvolves a bracelet having a hollow terminal member to receive the pin-bar tube and a cover member to cover the tube, the cover-member being tubular and having a slot on the bracelet side to receive the terminal, the width ofthe slot being less than the diameter of the terminal so that the slot must be sprung open to snap the cover member over the hollow terminal, and in the preferred embodiment the terminal member comprises a band having its free end encircling the tube of the pin-bar, the length of the free end being less than that of the band to provide shoulders on the terminal member adjacent the free end, the aforesaid outturned ears hooking under the shoulders to prevent outward displacement of the cover member relative to the terminal member.

r ice For the purpose of illustration typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a face view of a watch with the improved expansible band attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the terminal member and Fig. 3 is a side view of the terminal member and cover member with a part of the cover member in section;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3 viewed from the bottom of Fig. 3;

Fig. '5 is a view like Fig. 3 showing the cover member L removed from the terminal member;

Fig. 6 is a view of the cover member from the bracelet side of the member; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views of similar cover members for use with watches of diiferent shapes.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 comprises an expansible bracelet having links 1 pivoted together in any suitable way, a terminal member 2 at each end of the bracelet and a cover member 3 enj closing the free end of each of the terminal members 2'. The terminal member comprises a band of metal having, its free end bent to provide a cylinder 4 to receive the I pin-bar 5 having spring-pressed pins 6 adapted to seat in sockets on the inside of the watch lugs 7. The cover member 3 has a slot 8 on its bracelet side (Fig. 6) and the width of the slot is less than the outside diameter of the cylindrical end 4 of the terminal member 2 so that the slot must be sprung open to snap the cover member over the terminal member. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the free end 4 of the terminal member has a length less than that of the pin-bar 5 to provide shoulders 9 on the terminal member and to provide gaps between the ends of the, Projecting inwardly' cylinder 4 and the watch lugs 7. from opposite sides of the slot 8 at each of the aforesaid gaps is a pair of ears 10 and 11, the ears 10 being bent inwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and the ears 11 being bent outwardly under the shoulders 9 to hold the cover member against the cylindrical end of the terminal mem-' ber. The width of the ears 10 approximates the width of the aforesaid gaps and the ears overlap the end edges of.

the cylinder 4. Thus when the parts are. assembled the ears 10 fill the gaps between the ends of the cylinder 4.

and the watch lugs 7. v

To assemble the parts the cover member 3 is first snapped over the cylinder 4 and the ears 11 are engaged dimension of the cover member 3 lengthwise of the brace-. let is preferably slightly less than the distance between the watch case and the shoulders 9 so that the ears 11 are. yieldingly pressed against the shoulders 9 to avoid any lost-motion in use. And inasmuch as the cars 10 substan tially fill the gaps between the ends of the cylinder 4 and the watch lugs,'there is no substantial lost-motion of any of the parts lengthwise of the pin-bar 5. I'-

For use with a circular watch such as shown in Fig. l, the lengthwise contour of the cover member 3 on the watch side is preferably circular as indicated at 12 in Figs. 1 to 4. For use with a rectangular watch the watch side should be straight as Shown at 13 in Fig. 7 and 14 in Fig. 9. With a bracelet having a curved end to match a curved watch the cover member should be curved on both sides as indicated at 12 and 15 in Fig. 8.

From the foregoing it will be evident that by merely substituting a cover member 3 to match the shape of the Patented Aug. 16, 1960 3 watch and the terminal member of the band, any band may be fitted to any watch. Thus instead of carrying an extensive stock of bands having terminal members of different sizes and shapes, a dealer need only carry a stock of cover members 3 of different sizes and shapes and, owing to the simplicity of the cover members, the cost of a series of different sizes and shapes is negligible.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 7 I a We claim: l

1. For use with a wrist watch having spaced lugs adapted to receive a hollow bracelet terminal there- 'between, a tube adapted to extend through the hollow terminal and having spring pins therein adapted to snap into recesses in the watch lugs, a cover memb er of resilient material adapted to cover the tube, the cover member being tubular and having a slot on the side next to the bracelet, the length of the cover member approximating the distance between the watch lugs and the width of said slot being less than the diameter of said hollow terminal so that the slot must be sprung open to snap the cover member over the hollow terminal, the length of the terminal being less than the space between said lugs to provide a gap between each end of the terminal and the adjacent lug, and ears at the ends of the cover member extending into said gaps past the ends of the terminal to restrain endwise movement of the termina 2. For use with a wrist watch having spaced lugs adapted to receive a hollow bracelet terminal therebetween, a tube adapted to extend through the hollow terminal and having spring pins therein adapted to snap into recesses in the watch lugs, a cover member adapted to cover the tube, the cover member being tubular and having a slot on the side next to the bracelet, the length of the cover member approximating the distance between the watch lugs, the length of the terminal being less than the space between said lugs to provide a gap between each end of the terminal and the adjacent lug, and a pair of ears on opposite sides of said cover member at each of said gaps, one ear of each pair being turned inwardly of the tubular cover member into one of said gaps to obstruct endwise movement of the terminal member and the other ear of each pair being turned outwardlyrelatively inc the cover member to engage under the terminal memer.

3. For use with a wrist watch having spaced lugs adapted to receive a hollow bracelet terminal therebetween, a tube adapted to extend through the hollow terminal and having spring pins therein adapted to snap into recesses in the watch lugs, a cover member of resilient material adapted to cover the tube, the cover member being tubular and having a slot on the side next to the bracelet, the length of the cover member approximating the distance between the watch lugs and the width of said slot being less than the diameter of said hollow terminal so that the slot must be sprung open to snap the cover member over the hollow terminal, the length of the terminal being less than the space between said lugs to provide a gap between each end of the terminal and the adjacent lug, and a pair of ears on opposite sides of said tube at each of said gaps, one ear of each pair being turned inwardly of the tubular cover member into one of said gaps to obstruct endwise movement of the terminal member and the other ear of each pair being turned outwardly relatively to the cover member to engage under the terminal member.

4. For use with a wrist watch having spaced lugs and a tube bridging the space between the lugs and having spring pins therein adapted to snap into recesses in the lugs, a bracelet having a hollow terminal adapted to receive said tube, the length of the terminal being less than said space to provide agap between each end of the terminal and the adjacent lug, a cover member of resilient material adapted to cover said tube, the cover member being tubular and having a slot on the bracelet side adapted to receive said terminal, and said cover member having ears at said gaps to extend into said gaps past the ends of said tube, the ears being turned inwardly past the end edges of said hollow terminal to obstruct endwise movement of the tube'relatively'to the cover memher.

5. For use with a wrist watch having spaced lugs and a tube bridging the space between the lugs and having spring pins therein adapted to snap into recesses in the lugs, a bracelet having a hollow terminal adapted to receive said tube, the length of the terminal being less than said space to provide a gap between each end of the terminal and the adjacent lug, a cover member adapted to cover said tube, the cover member being tubular and having a slot on the bracelet side adapted to receive said terminal, and a pair of ears on opposite sides of said tube at each of said gaps, one ear of each pair being tumed inwardly of the tubular cover member into one of said gaps to obstruct endwise movement of the terminal memher and the other ear of each pair being turned outwardly relatively to the cover member to engage under the terminal member.

6. For use with a wrist watch having spaced lugs and a tube bridging the space between the lugs and having spring pins therein adapted to snap into recesses in the lugs, a bracelet having a terminal member comprising a band having its free end encircling said tube, the length of the free end lengthwise of the tube being reduced to provide shoulders on the member adjacent to said free end and being less than said space to provide a gap between each end of the free end and the adjacent lug, a cover member adapted to cover said tube, the cover member being tubular and having a slot on the bracelet side adapted to receive said terminal member, and a pair of ears on opposite sides of said tube at each of said gaps, one ear of each pair being'turned inwardly of the tubular member past the end edges of said free end to obstruct endwise movement of the terminal member relatively to the cover member and the other ear of each pair being turned outwardly to engage under one of said shoulders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

